Flash light



y 1934- H. G. GRAUBNER ET AL. 1,960,739

FLASH LIGHT Filed May 25, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 i z i Q HIM v I IHHHIHIIWIII Hn Q 2 INVENTORSZ ATTORNEYS,

l BY

g fim.

May 29, 1934.

H. G. GRAUBNER ET AL FLASH LIGHT Filed May 25, 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 BY ATTORNEYS,

z I VENT 0R3: w gm y 1934- H. G. GRAUBNER ET AL FLASH LIGHT Filed May 25, 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 %YENTO%$.I 221.

ATTORNEYS,

Patented May 29, 1934 FLASH. LIGHT Herman G. Graubner, Lakewood, and Albert G.

Saurwein, Cleveland, Ohio, assignors to National Carbon Company, 1110., a corporation of New York Application May 25, 1931, Serial No. 539,894

16 Claims. (Cl. 200-60) ihe invention is a new electric switch for a flashlight and a new means for mounting a cooperating insulated conductor of electricity on the metal casing thereof.

One object is to provide a switch having four operative positions, comprising: neutral, in which the switch is latched in open circuit position; locked, in which the switch is locked in open circuit position; flash, in which the switch is manually held in closed circuit position; and steady, in which the switch is locked in closed circuit position.

Another object is to provide a switch having an operating button that is protected or shielded in all open circuit positions against accidental movement to closed circuit position, and when in locked position is doubly protected against accidental movement to closed circuit position.

Still other objects are to provide a switch having a minimum number of rugged parts, and to provide simpler and stronger means for mount-- ing the insulated conductor that cooperates with the switch. Other aims, objects, and novel features, are disclosed by the following specification and the accompanying illustrations, in which:

Fig. 1 is a top view of our switch mounted on a metal flashlight casing of which only a fragment is shown;

Fig. 2 is a section of the switch and the upper wall of the casing taken along line 2-2 of Fig. 1 showing the switch in neutral position; Q

Fig. 3 is a similar section showing the switch in locked position;

Fig. i is a similar section showing the switch in flash position;

5 is a similar section showing the switch in steady position;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view of the top of the casing with the switch removed to show the position of the conductor; and,

Fig. 7 is a sectional view along line 77 of Fig. 6, showing the means for mounting the conductor.

The casing of the flashlight is preferably a cylindrical tube of sheet metal having threads or other means at each end thereof by which it is joined to other portions of the flashlight. The conductor is preferably a strip of sheet metal hav ing an intimate unbroken coating of dielectric material formed therearound. This conductor is firmly clamped to the inner wall of the casing by two or more ears sheared from the wall thereof and turned inward over the edge of the conductor. The rear end of the conductor extends outward through a lateral opening in the wall of the casing and, preferably, lies either against or close to the outside thereof. A portion of the outer surface of this part of the conductor has the dielectric removed therefrom so that the metal surface thereof is exposed.

The switch is preferably mounted on the outside of the casing over the exposed portion of the conductor with which it makes contact when in closed circuit position to close the electric circuit through the battery, bulb, and other portions of the flashlight which are of a form known to the art and, therefore, not shown for sake of simplicity and clarity.

The casing may be of dielectric material such as fiber, paper, bakelite, or the like, and in such case the conductor may or may not be provided with a covering of insulation according to the requirements of other portions of the flashlight. When a dielectric casing is used the conductor may be attached thereto by a strip of metal in the form of a staple having the ends thereof extending inward through openings in the wall of the casing and turned or bent over the edges of the conductor. While this form of fastening may also be used with a metal casing it is considered preferable to cut the supporting ears from the wall of the casing.

The preferred form of the switch comprises a housing mounted on the outside of the casing by means of rivets or other suitable fastening. The housing is provided with a plurality of slots, and a guide is mounted on the housing by means of overturned ears formed thereon that extend inward through these slots in which they are adapted to slide. This guide is provided with a depression having an opening at the bottom thereof, and a manually depressible switch operating button is held in this opening so that the top thereof is below the top of a raised outer edge of the depression. This raised portion of the guide around the edge or rim of the depression forms a guard that prevents the operating button from being accidentally depressed when the flashlight is placed in contact with any straight or flat surface. The lower end of the button is provided with an outturned flange that rests on the upper surface of the housing; on the under surface of the housing; above an opening in the housing on a spring carried thereby; or on a spring below the opening in the housing, according to which of its operating positions the switch is in.

While the preferred form of the switch has four operating positions our invention embraces switches having any combination of two or more of these positions. Furthermore, the raised portion of the guide that prevents the button from being inadvertently depressed may be omitted and the locked position of the switch relied on to prevent it from being accidentally closed.

The structure and operation of the invention will be more quickly and clearly understood by referring to the illustration which shows the preferred form having a conductor 10 provided with an intimate unbroken coating of dielectric 11 held against the inner wall of a tubular metal casing 12 by two or more cars 13 sheared from the wall of the casing and turned inward over the edge of conductor 10 thereby clamping it rigidly in place. The rear end of conductor 10 extends outward through an opening 14 in the wall of casing 12 and is provided with an exposed portion 15 from which the dielectric or insulation 11 has been removed. The casing 12 is also provided with suitable openings 16 for rivets or other means by which the switch is attached.

The switch comprises a housing 17 attached to casing 12 over the exposed portion 15 of conductor 10 by a plurality of rivets 18. The central portion of housing 17 is spaced from casing 12 and prov-ded with an elongated opening 19 having a wide or large end and a narrow or small end, and four longitudinally disposed elongated slots 20. A guide 21 is mounted on the upper side of housing 1? and held in place by four cars 22 that extend downward respectively through slots 20, over the edge of which they are turned inward but not 'crirnped tight enough to prevent them from sliding therein. This guide 21 is provided with an opening 23 therein having the under side of the edge or rim thereof spaced above the upper surface or housing 17, and a raised wall 24 around this opening that forms a guard having a function that will be described later;

A button 25 is carried by guide 21 and positioned with respect thereto by the central body thereof which fits loosely in opening 23, and an outturned flange 26 at the lower end thereof that lies between the lower side of the rim of opening 23 and the upper surface of housing 17. A spring 27 is secured to the under side of housing 17 by a rivet 28 and provided with: an upwardly offset portion 29 lying in opening 19 of housing 1'7 with the upper surface thereof substantially flush with the upper surface of the housing; a downwardly offset or bent portion 30 adapted to make contact with the exposed portion 15 of conductor 10 when this spring is flexed downward; and a portion 31 that extends upward above the upper surface of portion 29 and forms a latch to detain guide 21 and button 25 in either of their open circuit positions.

The relation between the assembled parts is such that when gu'de 21 is at the limit of its movement in one direction button 25 is supported by the upwardly offset resilient portion29 of spring2'7 directly over the large portion of the elongated opening 19 in housing 17, and when the guide is at the limit of its movement in the other direction the outturned flange 26 of button 25 rests on the rigid surface of housing 17 at or near the edge of the small portion of opening 19. The diameter of flange 26 is small enough to freely pass through the large portion or end of opening 19, and the body of button 25 is small enough to slide into the small end of opening 19 through which flange 26 will not pass.

The button 25, instead of being hollow, may be solid. lirthatcase movement thereof will be restrained by the latch only when moved from neutral position to locked position. However, by

moving the latch nearer the large end of opening 19 it will restrain the movement f om locked to neutral position, but not from neutral to locked position. This is a desirable condition as it renders the switch less liable to accidental movement toward closed circuit position and, consequentiy, the battery less liable to become iutilely exhausted.

When the switch is in neutral position, as shown by Figs. 1 and 2, the electric circuit is open and button 25 is supported at normal height in elevated condition by the elevated portion 29 of spring 27 above the large end or opening 19. From this position it may be moved to any one oi its th e e other operative positions.

To place the switch in locked position, shown in 3, guide 21 is moved to the lei" t as shown by the drawings, or actually toward the head the flashlight, without depressing button 25. During this movement latch 31 is depressed by flange 26 of button 25 and this tends to restrain the button in neutral position and prevent accidental movement. When in this position button 25 in elevated condition and flange is resting on the upper surface of housing 1? at or near the edge of the small end oi opening T ierefore, button 25 cannot be and, con. equently, the circuit is open and the switch is locked. Button 25 is als restrained from movement from this position by latch 31.

In order to move tl'ieswiteh from neutral position to flash position as shown by Fig. button 2. is manually depressed thereby moving flange 26 downward through the large l of opening 19 until the offset portion of sp 27 comes in contact with the exposed portion 15 of conductor 10 thereby closing the electric circuit. Vvhen pressure upon button 25 is released, spring 2'? moves it back to neutral position.

In order to move the switch from neutral iui ly detion to steady position, button 25 is r pressed until the up .aurface of iii the under surface o housing 1'. and then it is moved to the left to position shown in Fig. 5. In the position the body oi button 25 is in the small end of opening 19 and the rim 26 there... is held against the under side of the housing at or near the edge of opening 19 by spr n3? 2'? of which the portion 30 is in contact with the rposed portion 15 of conductor 16. As long s the switch remains in this position circuit clos l. order to move the switch back to neutral po i guide 21 is simply moved to the right to the le portion of opening 19 where spring 2'? move: t button 25 back up to neutral position as shown in Fig. 2.

From thei'oregoing description it is manifest thatour switch may be moved easily from its closed circuit positions to its open circuit positions, but its movement is accomplished with more diiliculty. ihis tends to prevent accidental closure of the switch a futile exhaustion of th battery When switch is in locked posi ion the operating button is heldagainst movement to closed circuit position andalso guarded against ecidental contact. When the switch is in neutral position the button likewise guarded. Therefore, although a flashlight equipped with this switch is packed for travel 1 tures, however, our switch may manually the opposite clirect'on moved. from one position to another without anyv difiioultywhatever.

While we haveshownand described only the preferred embodiment. of our switch and the sup,- port for its cooperating conductor, it is evident that the .form andarrangement of. the..component parts may be varied considerably and still be. Within the scope of. our invenitionand. the interpretation ofour claims.

We claim:v

1. In aflashlight; a metalcasing havinga slot and a plurality ofinturned ears; av sheet metal. conductor having. an insulated. portion held. within said casing by sai-dears and a. portion ex: tending. outwardv through said slot and. provided with an exposed portion; a switch comprising a housing mountedion said casing over. thelexposed, portion 'ofsaid conductor and having anielongated openingtherein with a largelend. and. asmallend; a guide mounted upon saidhousing. and adaptedto be. moved with respect thereto; a. button carried. by said guideand provided with. an outturned flange at the lower. end thereof adapted to occupy. a locked position above the small end of said opening, a neutral position above. the large end of said opening, a flash position belowthe large end of said opening, and a steady position below thesmall endof said open-.- ing; and a spring mounted within said housing and provided with: a portion offset upward into, saidopening and adapted to support said button in saidneutral position, a portion offset downward and adapted to be moved into contactwith the exposed surface or said conductor by said button when it is moved iromneutral to flash position, and. to be held. in contact. therewith whilesaid button is in steady position, and aportion offset upward beyond said firstmentioned portion andadapted to detain said button in one or more of said positions. I

2. In aflashlight; ametal casing; a. conductor.v having an exposed portion; and a switch comprising ahousing mounted on said. casing and having. an opening. therein; a guide mounted upon saidv housing and adapted. to be moved with respect thereto; a button provided with a flange carried by said guide and adapted to. cooperate with said opening to occupy: a locked position wherein said flange is over said-housing. a neutral position wherein, saidflange is over. saidiopening, and; a; flash position wherein. said. flange isbelow said opening; and a spring mounted within said housiughaving a portion ofiset upward into said. open.- ing andadapted to support. saidbutton in. said;

' neutral position, and a portion adapted to be movedinto contact with theexposed portion of said'conductor whensaidbutton is moved into flash position.

3. In a flashlight; a casing; a conductor having an exposed portion; and a switch comprising a housing mounted on said casing and having an elongated opening therein with a large end and a small end; a guide mounted upon said housing and free to move with respect thereto; a button carried by said guide and provided with a flange above said housing adapted to cooperate with said opening to provide: a neutral position above the large end of said opening, a flash position below the large end of said opening, and a locked position below the small end of said opening; and a spring having a portion in said opening adapted to support said button in said neutral position and a portion to be moved by said button into contact with the exposed portion of said conduotor.

4; Ina flashlight; a casing; a conductor having an exposed portion; and a switch. comprising. a housing, mounted on said casing and; having. an, elongated opening therein. with a small; endand a large end; a: guide mounted upon said. housing. and: adapted to, be moved with. respect thereto;- a button carried by said. guide and providedv with. anoutturned flange above. thelarge end of said opening, that. is free to move. into alockedposition above the small, endof-saidopening, a flashpositionbelowthe large endiofisaid opening, and; steady. position. below the small end of said; opening: and a. spring. extending into. said opening. adapted to support said button in said neutralposition to be held in contact with the, exposedportion ofsaid conductorby said button whenit is insaid flashland steady positions, and means on said springto. detain said button in one or: more. or said-positions.

5. In a. flashlight; ametal casing having a slot and a plurality/ct inturnedears; a sheet metalconductor having an insulated portionheld-within said. casingby said. ears and. a portion extending outward. through said slotand provided with an exposed portion; and a switch mounted: on saidcasing and adapted to make contact with the exposed portion ofsaid conductor to complete thev electriccircuit of said flashlight.

6. In a flashlight; aswitch comprisingthecombination. of. an operating button; means for, mountingsaid button to. provide-two open circuit positions in which saidbutton is in elevated condition, and two closedcircuit positions in which said buttonlis in depressedvcondition; a guard adapted to shield said button from contact; with objects liable. to accidentally. move it to closed circuit position; resilient meansior supporting said button in elevated condition in one of said silient meansforsupporting said: button in ele .vated condition in one of said open circuit positions; and stationary means for supporting said button in elevated condition in the other of said open circuit positions, and also for holding said button in-depressedcondition-inoneof said closed I circuit positions.

8. Inaflashlight; a switch comprising a housing mounted on a casing over the exposed portion of a conductor and having an elongated opening therein with a large end and a small end; a guide mounted upon said housing and adapted to be moved with respect thereto; a button carried by said guide and provided with an outturned flange at the lower end thereof adapted to occupy a locked position above the small end of said opening, a neutral position below the large end of said opening, a flash position below the large end of said opening, and a steady position below the small end of said opening; and a spring mounted Within said housing and provided with: a portion offset upward into said opening and adapted to support said button in said neutral position, a portion oflset downward and adapted to be moved into contact with the exposed surface of said conductor by said button when it is moved from neutral to flash position, and to be held in contact therewith while said button is in steady position, and a portion offset upward beyond said first mentioned portion and adapted to detain said button in one or more of said positions.

9. In a flashlight; a switch comprising a housing mounted on a casing and having an opening therein; a guide mounted upon said housing and adapted to be moved with respect thereto; a button provided with a flange carried by said guide and adapted to cooperate with said opening to occupy: a locked position wherein said flange is over said housing, a neutral position wherein said flange is over said opening, and a flash position wherein said flange is below said opening; and a spring mounted within said housing having a portion offset upward into said opening and adapted to support said button in said neutral position, and a portion adapted to be moved into contact with the exposed portion of a conductor when said button is moved into flash position.

v 10. In a flashlight; a switch comprising a housing mounted on a casing and having an elongated opening therein with a small end and a large end; a guide mounted upon said housing and free to move with espect thereto; a button carried by said guide and provided with an outturned flangeadapted to cooperate with said opening to provide: a neutral position above said housing at the large end of said opening, a locked position above said housing at the small end of said opening, a flash position below said housing at the large end of said opening, and a steady position below said housing at the small end of said opening; and a spring having a portion in said opening adapted to support said button in said neutral position, a portion adapted to be held in contact with the exposed portion or" said conductor by said button when it is in said flash and steady positions, and a portion above said opening to detain said button in one or more of said positions.

11. In a flashlight; a metal casing having a slot and a plurality of inturned ears; a sheet metal conductor having an insulated portion held within said casing by said ears and a portion extending outward through said slot and provided with an exposed portion.

12. In a flashlight, a switch comprising an opcrating button having a flange; means comprising a sliding guide for mounting said button to provide independent vertical and conjoint horizontal movement into two open and two closed circuit positions; resilient means for moving said button from one of said closed circuit positions to one of said open circuit positions; and stationary means cooperating with said flange and said guide to provide a path in which said button is free to move to one of said open circuit positions only from the other of said open circuits positions, and. to one of said closed circuit positions only from the other of said closed circuit positions.

13. In a flashlight, a switch comprising an operating button; means for mounting said button to provide a path of movement having two open and two closed circuit positions in series; a resilient circuit closing contact operable by said button; and means on said contact to resist movement of said button from one of the other of said open circuit positions, and from one to the other of said closed circuit positions.

14. In a flashlight, a switch comprising a housing having a wall with an elongated opening therein having a large end, and a small end; a guide mounted on said housing and free to move along said opening; a button carried by said guide and provided with a flange above said wall smaller than the large end and larger than the small end of said opening; and a spring secured to said housing having a portion substantially flush with the upper surface or" said wall.

15. In a flashlight, a switch comprising a housing having a wall with an elongated opening therein having a rim and a narrow end; a spring having a portion in said opening substantially flush with the upper surface of said wall; a guide mounted on said housing and free to move along said opening; and an operating button having a flange mounted in said guide above said wall and free to move through said opening with said spring, and also free to move with said guide along said rim either inside or outside of said housing.

16. In a flashlight, a switch comprising a housing having a wall with an elongated opening therein having a wide end and a narrow end; a depressible operating button having a flange smaller than the large end or" said opening and free to move therethrough; means for mounting said button on said housing comprising a guide free to move along said opening with said button; means for supporting said button in neutral position above said wall comprising a spring seemed to said housing with a portion in said opening substantially flush with the upper surface of said wall; means comprising said flange and a portion of said wall at the narrow end of said opening for maintaining said button in open circuit position with said flange above said wall and in closed circuit position with said flange below said wall; and means movable by said button for closing a circuit when said flange is below said wall.

HERMAN G. GRAUBNER. ALBERT G. SAURVVEIN. 

